The match is set for 5:00 p.m.

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (Nov. 16, 2017) – After receiving the No. 2 seed in the Southern Conference Tournament, the Bucs are set to play No. 7 seed, Western Carolina tomorrow (Friday), Nov. 17. The SoCon Tournament is hosted by Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C. If the Bucs win, they will play the winner of UNCG and Chattanooga.

SERIES HISTORY: The Bucs have quite the interesting history with Western Carolina. Last season ETSU split the matches and this year they did the same thing. The last time the Bucs played at Western Carolina, ETSU lost a heartbreaking five-set match.

A LOOK AT ETSU: The Bucs finished conference play with a 12-4 record. Leah Clayton and Rylee Milhorn earned a spot on the All-SoCon First Team. Marija Popovic racked up multiple awards after being awarded the Rayna Taylor Freshman of the Year, the Libero of the Year, and also earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Popovic also is first in the conference in digs per set. The Bucs’ blocking game will help them, as they have been first in the conference all season. They are led by Braedyn Tutton with 1.28 blocks per set. The Bucs are one of the only teams in the conference with a six-two rotation, so ETSU’s setters Alyssa Kvarta and Lexie Libs will be fully rested to set up their hitters.

A LOOK AT WESTERN CAROLINA: In the preseason poll, Western Carolina was expected to finish eighth. The Catamounts finished conference play with a 6-10 record, tied with Chattanooga. Western’s Katie O’Connor was named to the SoCon Second Team. She is ranked first in the conference with .452 hitting percentage and MaKenzie White was named to the All-Freshman Team. Currently Western Carolina is ranked fourth in the SoCon with a .203 hitting percentage. They are right behind ETSU in blocks per set at second, but they are first in digs. Lastly Jo-Leigh VerVelde is ranked fifth in the SoCon in assists and Aleah Keaton is fourth in blocks per set.

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